iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll citlhscWhen they gain access to the bloodstream or lymphatic system, the bac-
teria may act as superantigens or may induce autoimmunity through mo-
lecular mimicry.
Dysbiosis
Gram-negative enterobacteria are part of the normal flora but become
pathogenic under the right circumstances, leading to autoimmunity.
Different bacterial species present may produce their own unique by-
products. For example, methanogenic bacteria produce methane gas (not
thought to be harmful unless present in excessive amounts, which can
cause constipation and IBS) during fermentation, while sulfate-reducing
bacteria produce a harmful hydrogen sulfide gas, which can damage the
colonic epithelium.
These gram-negative bacteria are normally present in small amounts in
the human intestine, but some individuals may have too many of them
and not enough of the beneficial gram-positive bacteria. This produces an
imbalance in bacterial gut flora known as gut dysbiosis.
When they predominate, the gram-negative bacteria can attach to the
intestinal wall and hijack the intestinal barrier, allowing themselves to
cross into the bloodstream and lymphatic system.
Proteus Bacteria
When there is depletion of beneficial bacteria coupled with poor stomach
acid and inadequate protein digestion, the Proteus species of gram-nega-
tive bacteria can overgrow and attach to the intestinal lining. This bacte-
rium damages the cells in the intestinal lining with the toxins it releases
when it feeds on partially digested foods by fermenting them. This causes
inflammation, leading to an immune system imbalance.
Proteus bacteria do not ferment dairy but instead ferment fructose and
undigested meat. Fermenting meat and protein leads to the release of a
sulfate gas that damages the intestinal wall. Bad news for those around
you: this gas has a rotten-egg smell.
The bacteria are then able to cross into circulation and are implicated in au-
toimmunity. The proteins in the cell walls of these bacteria resemble different
parts of our self-antigens, thus leading to molecular mimicry. The Proteus
bacteria contain lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a type of endotoxin, in their bac-
terial cell wall. LPS is released during bacterial death or replication, causing
inflammation. As a result, LPS becomes a trigger for the immune system.